Two championship battles are set to be decided on the fast and flowing gravel roads around the township of Waimate in South Canterbury on Saturday 3 October 2026. The one-day 2026 Waimate Rally will play host to the season finale for both the Mainland Rally Championship and Fern Energy H6 Cup. The event is a club rally with six Special Stages with no pace notes across three gravel roads and a central service park at Seddon Park.
In the Mainland Rally Championship title fight, Jack Stokes and co-driver Hayden Graves (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) have a 14-point lead over Deane Buist who will have Tim McIvor as co-driver alongside him in their Toyota Trueno.
Event organisers have placed a strong emphasis on bringing the rally closer to the community. Seddon Park in Waimate will give the public an opportunity to see the cars and crews throughout the day, while the Waihaorunga spectator point will provide fans with a dedicated location to watch the action out on the stages.
The inaugural event is expected to attract competitors from across the South Island and beyond, bringing crews, service teams, families and spectators into the Waimate District for the weekend.
With the entry deadline now approaching, organisers are encouraging anyone considering competing to get their entry completed before the cut-off – Entries close at 6pm Tuesday.
The Waimate Rally takes place on Saturday 3 October 2026 with 80 kms of Special Stages and 135 kms of touring with the first car getting underway from the township at 09.30 hrs and arriving back at 16.30 hrs. Further competitor and spectator information to be released in the lead-up to the event.
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